Original paintings from a self-taught artist, photography & daily musings

Monthly Archives: November 2012

I wanted to share some of the progress I am making on my latest oil painting on canvas “Suspended in Animation”. I have been working on this for over a month. I like the way it is coming along although it still has a long way to go…problem is….I just don’t know which way to go from here. I do love the palette that I chose. It is even more vibrant in person. Its dimensions are 15 x 30 inches.

Initially, I had started an acrylic painting of a forest. This was my first attempt at using acrylic and it just wasn’t working for me……so the acrylic base provided a nice underpainting. I then painted over it in oils that were pale, pale cobalt blue and a fleshy pink. The upper colors that you see now are actually 3-4 different layers of oils. I have been using Liquin as my medium so it has a nice, glossy finish to it thus far.

Stay tuned for more! Who knows, the next time you see it, it very well may be unrecognizable.

Dia de los Muertos is a traditional Meso-American holiday dedicated to the ancestors; it honors both death and the cycle of life. In Mexico, neighbors gather in local cemeteries to share food, music, and fun with their extended community, both living and departed. The celebration acknowledges that we still have a relationship with our ancestors and loved ones that have passed away.

In San Francisco, Day of the Dead has been celebrated in the Mission district since the early 70s with art, music, performances and a walking procession, which help us contemplate our existence and mortality — a moment to remember deceased friends and family, and our connections beyond our immediate concerns.

Today, I honored several of my loved ones whom have passed over to a new dimension. I honored them in my heart, my mind, and my prayers. I wanted to share a picture of my late partner Mona Lucero. She sadly committed suicide on January 5th, 2010. She left an indelible imprint upon both my life and my heart.

The picture you see below is one of the last photos I have of Mo that I took one month before her untimely death. The sketch is something that I drew while at a work training. Ironically, the topic of the training dealt with suicide. I immediately became uncomfortable and emotional when the ‘suicide powerpoint’ went up. Doodling helps me focus, listen, and concentrate sometimes. After our training, we had a Dios de los Muertos ceremony where we acknowledged some of our loved ones. I was unable to share with my co-workers at that time; however, she was in my heart….I just was too emotional to verbalize and share in that forum….so I am sharing her with you now.

Mona was an amazing, tragic, troubled, crazy-beautiful, complex soul who was too sensitive and traumatized to remain on this earth. I know she is at peace now. I know she is no longer struggling. She has finally found the rest which evaded her in this earthly dimension. I will miss her for the rest of my life.

Good evening to all. Welcome to November! What a crazy few days it has been here in San Francisco, my life, the Middle East, and here at home in the United States. My first order of business is to send my thoughts, prayers, and love to those affected by Hurricane Sandy on the east coast…3,000 […]